Scorecard

One match into his rehabilitation at the Ranji Trophy level, things haven’t changed much for Irfan Pathan junior. He failed to get into rhythm with the ball but his batting, when Baroda were in danger of losing the match, would have done a specialist Ranji batsman proud. His aggressive 82 – off 100 balls, with six sixes and three fours – took Baroda from 52 for 4 to a successful chase of 172 and a spot in the semi-finals.Starting the day at 17 for 1, Baroda faced sensible bowling from Uttar Pradesh, whose plan was to make Baroda graft for every run. Helped by their superior fielding, UP gave away only 35 runs in the first 15.4 overs, as three Baroda batsmen panicked and gave their wickets away. In walked Pathan, to shouts of ‘get him, he’s under pressure’, from the UP bench, two of them being former India team-mates. He had four overs to negotiate before lunch, and he looked good in those four overs.After lunch Pathan first picked on the most successful and threatening UP bowler, Praveen Kumar. He walked down the wicket, much like Matthew Hayden does, made room and lofted Kumar over extra-cover for his first six. In the next over, he stepped out to Piyush Chawla and lofted him for another six, this time into the sightscreen.These were followed by singles, revealing a plan to the onslaught. In the next over Pathan hit perhaps the shot of the match: Just a punch from the back foot, no follow-through of the bat involved. It sped through the covers for four, and announced the presence of a good batsman at the crease. That was not the end of the onslaught; he took a four to extra-cover, and a six over wide long-on from Chawla’s next over.In a matter of four overs the game had turned on its head, but then Jacob Martin played an irresponsible shot – a loopy square cut straight to point. This is when Pathan’s experience of having played in tight situations at international level came in handy. He started taking most of the strike, either running a single on the fifth or sixth ball, or clearing the field that had come up for the last two deliveries of the over.Himanshu Jadhav did not score off the first 25 balls he faced, yet the scoring rate did not fall; the tension in the dressing-room did not resurface. Pathan slowed down as he moved beyond his fifty and once he had brought Baroda close enough, he shifted gears again. He hit Kumar for back-to-back sixes over extra-cover, the second one of which was caught superbly by Umang Patel, former Baroda offspinner, sitting in the stands. Chawla was hit for another huge one over cow corner. Winning runs, though, quite fittingly, came from Jadhav’s square cut. Jadhav had been given out obstructing the field in the first innings and Baroda were not pleased that UP had gone for the appeal.Baroda defended their lead in the points table of Super League Group A and UP moved one step closer to relegation. With Tamil Nadu tied with UP at four points, the final league match – against different opponents – will be a close fight for the bottom-of-the-table.Today, though, was largely about Pathan, the best batsman on either side. Yet he will know that there’s more to his return from South Africa. At the end of the day he told Neo Sports that just bowling in the nets had not been helping him and he needed longer spells in match conditions. He was not happy with his bowling in the first innings, but said he had improved through the match. At times he was pleased with the swing he got, especially in the three-over spell before lunch on day three. But happy as he is with his batting, he knows it will take some time to regain the bowling form.Six-hitters Inc.If going for sixes were an objectionable addiction, Atul Bedade would have been an important member of Six-hitters’ Anonymous. Twelve years after having played his last ODI and three years after retiring from all cricket, Bedade is now a Baroda selector and, watching his side play here, he remembers how he hit 12 sixes in his 91-ball 150 against Punjab in 1993-94; six-hitting, it can be safely said, fascinates him as a topic. He chats about Amol Muzumdar’s batting and moves on to Sachin Tendulkar’s captaincy and how he expected everyone to perform at his standards. These expectations were the main reason he did not do as well as a captain as he could have. Brian Lara had a similar attitude in his first stint but he has matured and now understand his players better. Put it to him that he handles players like Chris Gayle much better now and Bedade’s eyes light up. Pointing towards the pitch, he says, “Only two people have hit the ball out of the ground from there, Gayle and I. He had ruined L Balaji’s debut. I loved that innings. What a guy he (Gayle) is… I remember their team coming here, they visited my office. And Gayle came and sat with his feet on my granite table. I have never let anybody else do that…”Wanted: Bride for PathanBeing dropped from the side means different things for different people. For Irfan Pathan it apparently means an opportunity for his mother to get him married. According to a local newspaper, Bapor Samachar (meaning Afternoon News), Pathan’s mother has in the past tried to meet two prospective brides but Pathan has managed to talk her out of it. Now, though, she seems quite determined, the paper reports in a news item that’s accompanied by a picture which has Pathan’s face superimposed on the body of a man sitting on a horse.This reporter showed the paper to Yusuf Pathan, who believes that, by virtue of being two years older and still unmarried, he should get the first go. Yusuf sees the paper and, laughing, says, “They write anything.” If Yusuf’s reaction is anything to go by, the BCCI need not worry about making travel arrangements for Pathan and Mrs Pathan on the next tour. If Mr Pathan makes it back to the team, that is.Baroda, the city-state
Vadodara, home to the Baroda Ranji team, is one of three city teams in the Ranji Trophy, the others being Hyderabad and Mumbai – and with an area of 148.22 square kilometers, the smallest of the lot. Yet it boasts a proud Ranji history, having won it five times – the last in 2000-01 – and three times being runners-up. That’s a better record from some full-fledged states, with bigger catchment areas, and attracts cricketers from pretty far afield. Players such as Abhimanyu Chauhan, the former Baroda Under-19 captain who moved here from Chattisgarh to further his cricket ambitions. Chauhan explains how, despite being a single-city team, Baroda do consistently well. They have six grounds which, he says, are all very good. The infrastructure is even better. The club rivalry here is intense too. Alembic, run by Kiran More, and Hindu Gymkhana have a history of intense rivalry. The corporate cricket here is strong too, with Alembic, IPCL (Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited), and GSFC (Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd) being the three major teams. The corporate cricket, according to Chauhan, provides the contests and also the finances. And you just wonder what if Baroda, Gujarat, and Saurashtra played as one state team.

The final draft of the BCCI players’ contracts is likely to be ready as soon as January 13. After it is decided which player is to receive what contract, the board will pass on the draft to the individual players. According to Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, the board has decided to go in for a performance-linked structure.This comes after a couple of rounds of discussions between senior players and board officials. The BCCI had earlier formed a committee comprising Sharad Pawar, the BCCI president, N Srinivasan, the treasurer, Shashank Manohar, a vice-president and Shah, among others, to look into the matter of the players’ contracts.There has been some apprehension that handing out contracts directly linked to individual performance will cause players to worry more about their personal results than that of the team, but the board’s intentions are different. Players are likely to receive a flat fee for each Test and one-day international, and a bonus if the team wins. There will not be rewards for individual performances – runs scored or wickets taken.The amounts will differ for Tests and ODIs and will increase in the case of a series win. The board also proposes to reward away wins more than it does home wins. To show that they are serious the board is willing to fork out cash over and above the allocated 13% of the gross revenue of the board that goes towards payment of the national team’s wages, should India embark on a winning streak.One thing that will remain the same, however, is the gradation for players. An A-grade contract will come with an annual retainer fee of Rs 50 lakh ($100,000 approx), B with 35 lakh ($75,000 approx) and C with 15 lakh ($30,000). The criterion for a C contract is five Tests or fifteen ODIs.

A report in Jamaica’s Gleaner newspaper has suggested that visitors to the island for the World Cup face having to pay massively inflated prices for hotel rooms, with many being almost double the standard rate.A survey by the newspaper’s business section revealed variations in price of between 63 and 133% above the normal rate, something that hoteliers put down to supply and demand at an already busy time of the year.Horace Peterkin, the president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, explained that the higher costs were justified by additional expenditure needed to cope with the extra tourists expected on the island.He added said that during the initial planning for World Cup, hotels were told the matches would occur in April and May, the to the tourism sector’s summer season and the point at which its rates are generally lowest.The Jamaica Pegasus, which will be the base of match officials and other cricket personnel, has rates of US$300 per room/night, compared to the US$167 it currently charges.”The bookings were made way in advance. There are going to be four teams officials and the press,” general manager Eldon Bremmer told the Gleaner. “We are fully booked and because of who are staying here it will work out cheaper. We have not had a change in rate since last year.”

Mark Waugh believes Adam Gilchrist must take more time with his batting as Australia search for their third World Cup in a row. Waugh, who opened with Gilchrist during the 1999 success, said if he scaled back his game slightly he could still be a force.”He is that good a player, he can score runs without trying to overhit the ball,” Waugh, who was named with Gilchrist in Australia’s all-time one-day team, said in the Herald Sun. “I think he has been too impatient. He has got to get through that first five or six overs. If he does that, he is one guy who can score heavily without even trying to.”Gilchrist stayed at home during the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after not posting a half-century in eight innings following his 60 and 61 to start the CB Series. The birth of Gilchrist’s third child will keep him in Australia while his team-mates depart for the Caribbean today, but he will be available for the first game against Scotland on March 14.Matthew Hayden and Gilchrist will be the first-choice pairing, but Hayden is also pushing to be ready for the opening match due to a foot injury. Hayden has worked with a podiatrist to design a big-toe cap that he hopes will stop further pain after being struck by a Mark Gillespie yorker in New Zealand.”My best-case scenario is to be back for the warm-up games and my worst-case scenario is to be back just for the first game,” he said on Channel 7. “When I return the main problem will be the pain. It will take a while for the swelling to go down.”Waugh said it would be important for both Hayden and Gilchrist not to feel like they have to push the pace in the Caribbean. “Both of those guys at the top have got so many good shots in their armoury,” he said, “they just need to be patient and the runs will come.”

Sussex have appointed allrounder Michael Yardy as vice-captain for the 2007 season. Under Yardy’s captaincy in Bangladesh recently, the England A side clinched the unofficial Test series 1-0 and the one-day contest 3-1.”This opportunity reflects an outstanding report from Bangladesh where it is understood Michael handled the responsibilities of captaincy on and off the field in a mature fashion and to a degree of great success,” Sussex captain Chris Adams said.”The appointment presents Michael with the opportunity to further his leadership skills and to strengthen his position within the team. We will work very closely together to ensure that we continue to raise the crossbar of performance and hope we can emulate the success of 2006.”Yardy, 26, played five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 in English colours, before being overlooked for the main one-day squad in Australia. He was handed the England A captaincy for the tour of Bangladesh after that.

Amnesty International has accused Sri Lanka of distorting a campaign at the World Cup aimed at highlighting the deteriorating human-rights situation on the war-torn island.The organisation is urging Sri Lanka and Tamil Tiger rebels to improve their rights record and asked fans in the Caribbean to sign white cricket balls marked “play by the rules.” Sri Lankan officials are reportedly furious and have lodged a protest with the ICC, but Amnesty said the campaign was not aimed at the Sri Lankan cricket team or a boycott of Sri Lankan sports.”The lives of hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans are being affected … our campaign is about these people, not the Sri Lankan cricket team,” Purna Sen , Amnesty’s Asia Pacific Director, said. “Civilians desperately need better protection and a key goal of our campaign is to press for independent human rights monitors to investigate human rights abuses and identify the perpetrators.”Rights activists have said that at least 1,000 people have disappeared in the island in the past year. In recent months, bodies have been found of people shot dead “execution-style” and dumped in swamps and roadsides. Intensified fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels has also forced over 300,000 people to flee their homes, the rights group claimed.Amnesty said Sri Lankans “are rightly proud of their ethnically diverse national cricket team,” but said they should also think about “hundreds of thousands of people (who) have had to flee the fighting to live in temporary shelter — and so are not able to live in safety let alone watch cricket.”The influential Free Media Movement (FMM), which consists of journalists and rights activists in Sri Lanka, recently rapped Amnesty’s use of the tournament saying it could anger moderates and help the government take a more hardline stance.The Tamil Tigers, on the other hand, have backed Amnesty’s campaign saying it would raise international awareness among the majority Sinhalese population about “the brutality of their government against the Tamil population.”However, the Tigers were criticised by Amnesty for continuing to forcibly recruit child soldiers, preventing civilians from leaving conflict areas and for killing “hundreds of civilians in summary executions and bomb attacks.”Earlier this week, the Tigers called for an international sporting boycott of Sri Lanka. “The apartheid South African regime was brought to its knees by using sports to raise political awareness among the white South Africans,” a spokeswoman told AFP. “I hope in a similar fashion the campaign started by Amnesty International will evolve into an international sports boycott against the Sri Lankan cricket team.”The Tigers have been fighting for a separate state in a war that has claimed more than 60,000 lives since 1972.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA full house at the Kensington Oval turned up for Brian Lara’s farewell to international cricket but, although it was a low-key farewell with the bat, they were treated to one of the best matches of the World Cup as England completed a thrilling one-wicket win with one ball to spare. Kevin Pietersen’s second World Cup century carried England to within touching distance and the ageless Paul Nixon reduced the requirement to four off the final over. Nixon was bowled by Dwayne Bravo but Stuart Broad held his nerveWhen Pietersen was joined by Nixon, England needed a tough 112 in 14 overs but the pair added 80 in 63 balls. Pietersen went to his fourth ODI ton with a huge six over midwicket off Jerome Taylor only to miss an attempted repeat next ball and lose his leg stump. Nixon, who came so close to carrying England home against Sri Lanka, took the momentum forward and his three boundaries off the 48th over left England needing a run-a-ball for the final two.When Nixon was confounded by Bravo’s excellent slower deliveries it was down to Broad and Jimmy Anderson to find three from four balls. Off the penultimate delivery Lara, in his final gesture as an international player, brought the field in and Broad, at the opposite end of his career, scythed over cover.It had taken six weeks but finally there was a sell-out and the crowd were treated to the match they deserved. They’d been whipped up into a frenzy by Chris Gayle’s 58-ball 79 so by the time Lara walked in, through a guard of honour from the England players, they were in the mood for something special.A scorching square-drive and a deft leg glance hinted at one final onslaught, but Marlon Samuels wasn’t reading the same script. Pushing the ball towards mid-on he set off for a run, only to change his mind and leave Lara stranded by Pietersen’s direct hit. As he left the field, to another standing ovation and handshakes from his team-mates, his ODI figures read 10,405 runs at 40.48 from 299 matches.Although he couldn’t sign off with a major innings, Lara at least appeared set to end with a victory when England fell away to 189 for 6. But Pietersen was ticking and he timed his charge to perfection, expertly picking out the required boundaries. Third man was a profitable area, but he also threaded the needle on both sides of the pitch.Kevin Pietersen finally managed a one-day hundred in a winning cause for England•Rebecca Naden/PA Photos/Getty Images

West Indies’ fielding was the ultimate mixed bag. Three direct-hit run outs, two from the ebullient Bravo, were outstanding but the number of fumbles and general laziness elsewhere was staggering. Gayle had the chance to remove either Pietersen or Nixon in the 46th over yet made a complete mess of it as both batsmen were stranded mid-pitch. With the first ball of the next over Pietersen reached his century off 90 balls but his wicket, followed quickly by Liam Plunkett, put West Indies back in control until Nixon’s heroics.For the first half of England’s run chase it appeared that the captain’s innings everyone had hoped for from Lara would actually come from Michael Vaughan’s bat. Hopelessly out of form throughout the tournament he finally kicked on and almost matched Gayle with a 33-ball fifty. One shot, off Taylor, was vintage Vaughan as he launched a pull into the stands at square leg. Another six followed as he danced down the pitch to Gayle and his first ODI fifty for 14 matches was completed with a flick to fine leg.With Bopara, who was promoted to No. 3, Vaughan added 90 for the second wicket until both were beaten by Bravo’s laser-guided arm as West Indies reasserted their hold. Bravo was having an irresistible period, bowling Paul Collingwood off the inside edge, and when Andrew Flintoff tamely lobbed to long on the innings was dribbling away. But England have a habit off pulling off the unexpected and, in many ways, it was a fitting finish to Duncan Fletcher’s time as coach.In the final outcome, West Indies’ late collapse of six for 42 during the last 10 overs allowed England back into a match which had been rushed away from them by Gayle, who finally found his touch. After 16 overs Vaughan had used seven bowlers as the opening stand reached 131 with Devon Smith contributing a more sedate fifty. Collingwood’s breathtaking salmon-like leap to remove Smith was a moment of brilliance, but Samuels partially atoned for his party-pooping role with a flamboyant 39-ball 51, taking 24 off Plunkett’s seventh over. Vaughan’s offspin was the surprise package in pulling back West Indies and, importantly, England’s fielding standards remained high.But while Vaughan ended as the winning captain the day was still all about Lara. At the final presentation he asked “did I entertain?” The resounding cheers from the crowd, most of who stayed on after the finish, pretty much said it all.

The former South African fast bowler, Allan Donald, has been appointed by the England & Wales Cricket Board as a consultant to the England team, and will link up with the squad ahead of the third Test at Old Trafford on a short-term contract that will take him through to the end of the NatWest Series against West Indies.Donald, 40, had been linked with an England role ever since the start of the summer, and went public with his interest during last week’s Lord’s Test. Peter Moores, the new head coach, confirmed after the conclusion of that match that the board intended to sit down for discussions.”It’s a big positive that someone of Allan’s stature wants to come along,” said Moores. “I want to make sure that whoever we bring in fits our set-up and it’s the right person and we don’t just think that because it’s a great name we should just pull them in.”In a statement, the ECB said that Donald, who has over 200 Test and one-day caps to his name, will work with the England squad and with other elite England-qualified fast bowlers, and will fall under the direction of Moores and the ECB fast bowling coach, Kevin Shine.The performance of England’s pacemen has come under severe scrutiny since the team was drubbed 5-0 by Australia in last winter’s Ashes, but Moores was keen to ensure that the blame for the failings did not fall on the shoulders of Shine, who succeeded Troy Cooley at the beginning of 2006 and has now reverted to an administrative role at the National Academy in Loughborough.”Peter Moores and ECB have every confidence in Kevin Shine to lead the ECB fast bowling programme and to coach England’s elite fast bowlers,” said John Carr, the director of operations. “Kevin will continue to be involved in the preparation of England fast bowlers around international matches as well as being involved in any decisions to utilise the services of other fast bowling coaches with England teams or in other parts of the fast bowling programme.”

Rubies and Emeralds, the top two sides, brushed aside the rain to storm to victory and maintain their status in the Super 4s table. Rubies are still undefeated in the tournament.The Emeralds, playing bottom-placed Sapphires, won by 27 runs at Loughborough. . Danielle Wyatt took for 5 for 23 to roll Sapphires for 120, who were chasing just 148 for victory.Beth Morgan made an impressive 65 to lift Emeralds, while Laura Spragg took 3 for 18 and Rochelle Petty took 3 for 29. For the Sapphires, only Laura Spragg (40) and Helen Wardlow (23*) put up any resistance.At Taunton, Rubies once again showed their all-round talent by beating a Diamonds side still missing England captain Charlotte Edwards. The Rubies were put in on an overcast day and made 98 for 6 from 35 overs, before rain delayed the match by two hours.Upon the resumption, the Diamonds were set a revised target of 96 from 27 overs. They fell to 84 for 9 as England spinner Holly Colvin took another five-wicket haul, with 5 for 27. Jenny Gunn top-scored with 22 for the Diamonds.

Pakistan’s top cricketers have pledged to raise funds for victims of the recent cyclone and subsequent floods that devastated the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan.Salman Butt, Pakistan’s vice-captain, said some cricketers had visited the flood-affected areas and were deeply moved by the plight of those living in the region.”We have decided to help raise funds for the Islamic Relief Pakistan (IRP) which is providing assistance to the victims in both provinces,” Butt said.Nearly 300 people died during the floods – many more are missing – and close to two million people are said to be affected. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes.Current cricketers, including Shahid Afridi, Imran Nazir and Misbah-ul-Haq will also work for the cause. Afridi, who toured the devastated areas said, “We were moved by the scenes that we witnessed. I believe it’s our responsibility to come to the rescue of those people who have lost their dear ones, homes and livelihood.”A group of former cricketers, including Rashid Latif, Moin Khan and Jalaluddin, are also actively involved with the organisation’s fund-raising activities. Islamic Relief is an NGO which conducts relief operations all over the world. It was established in 1984 in USA and in 1992 established its subsidiary in Pakistan. It plans to hold a series of fund-raising auctions in the US and UK in the near future.